(19)
(11) EP 0 739 094 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
18.03.1998 Bulletin 1998/12

(43) Date of publication A2:
23.10.1996 Bulletin 1996/43

(21) Application number: 96105962.3

(22) Date of filing: 16.04.1996
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6: H03K 17/10
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT NL

(30) Priority: 17.04.1995 JP 91087/95

(71) Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Kadoma-shi, Osaka 571 (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • Hirano, Hiroshige
    Nara-shi, Nara 631 (JP)
  • Chaya, Shigeo
    Koka-gun, Shiga 520-33 (JP)
  • Honda, Toshiyuki
    Nara-shi, Nara 630 (JP)

(74) Representative: Grünecker, Kinkeldey, Stockmair & Schwanhäusser Anwaltssozietät 
Maximilianstrasse 58
80538 München
80538 München (DE)

   


(54) High voltage withstanding circuit and voltage level shifter


(57) A switch circuit having a high withstanding voltage and low driving ability and another switch circuit having a low withstanding voltage and high driving ability are connected to a specified node in parallel. When discharging the charges of the specified node, the switch circuit having the high withstanding voltage is turned ON and the switch circuit having the great driving ability is then turned ON. Accordingly, it is sufficient that only the transition of the logical voltage of a switch circuit having the high withstanding voltage is taken into consideration to set the ON timing of a switch circuit having the high driving ability. Consequently, timing setting can be performed easily. After the switch circuit having the high driving ability is turned ON, a discharge path for the charges of the specified node takes two paths which passes through both switch circuits in parallel. Consequently, an operating speed can be increased.






Search report